I've never sued Chamois Creme itself, per se, though I know of some people who swear by it. I use Bag Balm on certain occasiona - (1) when I go for a long, 100 km + ride, (2) when my butt is sore from a previous ride, (3) when I ride offroad in wet conditions, (4) when I wear my Sugoi bibs with the unfortunate chamois stitching. I don't apply to the chamois, but to the part of my body that makes contact with the chamois the most.

The down side of Bag Balm is that it does tend to discolour the chamois [like I care].

You can use any of a number of products, from Chamois Butter to Bag Balm to hand lotion. The idea is the same -- it creates a thin lubricating layer between the chamois and your skin to prevent chafing. Back in the day, they used lard and olive oil, so go figure.

when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.

Michelle Pfieffer, the Carbon Fiber Wonder Bike: A Kestrel 200 SCI Repainted in glorious mango; Old Paintless, A Litespeed Obed; The Bike With No Name: A Bianchi Eros; RegularBike: A Parkpre Comp Ltd rebuilt as a singlespeed.

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Assos chamois creme is great stuff. Applied to the skin or the chamois it prevents chafing reduces the incidence of saddle sores. If you don't think you need it, you probably don't need it. If it sounds like it would help, it will probably help.

Religion is a good thing for good people and a bad thing for bad people. --H. Richard Niebuhr

A lot of the cycling shorts being sold today at reasonable prices have artificial chamois or other materials. The true use of chamois butter isn't needed on those. Only directly on a real "leather" material that stiffens up after washing. Real chamois is just too expensive for my tastes.

I use chamois butter all the time on my skin. It definately helps with the chafing and on hot, long rides. The better butters (hey I like that) have lanolin and vitamin E and other type of lubricants. I've heard that the original Bag Balm is really good for saddle sores too. Hard to find in the city and easier to source in a Farm Supply store. I've seen other brands in the local pharmacy store too, but they are not as thick in consistency. Performance used to sell some that looked like bear grease (not that I've ever really seen bear grease and smelled sweet, but I think they discontinued it. It was funny that it would wear through the shorts and made my leather saddle all shiny and smooth. It did double-duty in that way.

If you don't need it, consider yourself fortunate. One thing for sure is that after a long ride, get the he** out of those damp shorts, take a shower and put on dry, clean clothes. That will cut down on the chances of saddle sores.

I use Udderly smooth udder creme every ride. My shorts have synthetic chamois. I put the cream in the creases between my legs and, um, vitals to prevent chafing, not on the chamois. They carry it at the local W@l-Mart, farm supply stores, and building supply stores. It's also a good hand lotion for chapped skin, etc. I used to use Noxema, but that didn't cut it for me.

Walmart sells Bagbalm. I've used Chamios buttr, Bagbalm, Udderly smooth udder creme, Assos and petroleum jelly. I don't find much difference between petroleum jelly abd Bagbalm. I like Chamois Buttr the best because it isn't greasy, and it washes off very easily. The Assos had a weird warm and tingly feeling. I didn't like it much. Later.

I did my first Century last year and did not know anything about lubes. Well let me tell you I paid for the lack of knowledge. I was very sore. I was asked by one of the other riders, “well didn’t you lube up.” I was like what…
Now if I plan a ride longer than 30 miles I lube up. I use Chamios buttr, and it works great.

Noxema. I know it may sound crazy but try it. I don't recall where I picked up the idea but on days when I'm feeling a little chaffed I'll put some noxema on the inside of my legs and it makes all the difference.

Chamois creme per say was used back in the old days when cycling shorts pads were made of . . . real chamois. When repeatedly washed, the chamois would dry out and become stiff over time similar to leather after it is wet and dries. The creme was used to recondition the chamois. It is totally UNNEEDED with modern synthetic chamois.

Now, the variety of products on the market today are not really for use on chamois, but intended for use on your nether regions as a lubricant on long rides. They are intended to prevent chafing and irritation from sweat (read salt). They also help when you had to take that mid-century dump and your you-know-what is less than totally clean.

By the way, my fav is Bag Balm, as used on the udders of milk cows since 1899.

I've tried a few of the products that have been talked about. All seem to work to diff. degrees. I had a bout with a persistent sore that hung around when i stepped up mileage. I went to a generic combination of antibiotic creme and cortizone creme. I not only got rid of sore without cutting back on riding but was more comfortable without discoloring the chamois. Use the creme and not the gel. And you can forget the jokes about washing shorts...they are cleaned at least every 300 miles...hehe

The doer and the thinker, no allowance for the other
As the failing light illuminates the mercenaries creed

I've found that I need lube between my skin and what ever type of chamois I ride in. And after about 30 to 40 miles I have to reapply the lube. Well I was in REI today and found Chamois Buttr in little individual packs that will fit in either Jersey back pockets or under seat bag. Woohoo.

However, I'll repost something I recently posted in the Long Distance Forum:

If your bicycle is set up correctly, and you've got a good saddle, and you've developed good core muscles so you are sitting on the saddle properly ... you'll greatly reduce the chances of saddle sores.

I rarely use any creams at all on my rides. I did experiment with them one season, but found them to be sticky, messy, uncomfortable, and not worth it.

However, you do have to take care of your skin in really hot weather (because you sweat lots), and in rainy weather (because your shorts will be wet).

If you are sweating lots, it helps to stop at a gas station washroom, or something similar, along the way and wash yourself with water, then dry yourself well with paper towel. If you do not have the luxury of clean water and something to dry yourself with, baby wipes can help. Washing away the salt from the sweat helps reduce the chances of irritation.

If you know you'll be riding in rainy weather, a cream of some kind can help protect the skin. Wet skin is fragile skin.

After the ride, have a nice hot shower and wash well with soap and water. If you have no rashes or anything, you're good to go. If you do have a rash, apply some zinc oxide cream to the rash. You might want to wait till just before bed, and whether you are a male or female, I would recommend wearing boxer shorts to bed because zinc oxide cream is messy. In the morning you should be good to go.